-
Welcome back Guest!MARSH is a private reefing group. Comments and suggestions are encouraged, but please keep them positive and constructive. Negative threads, posts, or attacks will be removed from view and reviewed by the staff. Continually disruptive, argumentative, or flagrant rule breakers may be suspended or banned.
Who/How many are looking for acrylic Tanks/sumps? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ulric
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Users who are viewing this thread
I've been building acrylic projects for a number of years now, I'm working on my 10th sump right now (66"x24"x16"), and I'm building a tank for someone as well (48"x24"x16"). That's the first one I'm doing for someone other than myself. If you need any tips, shoot me a pm. I'm sure I've made all the mistakes you're about to encounter. 
I actually just picked up acrylic today, got 2 sheets of 3/8" material for these two projects. I wouldnt consider myself professional, but I can definitely make functional sumps/aquariums that look pretty ok.
I actually just picked up acrylic today, got 2 sheets of 3/8" material for these two projects. I wouldnt consider myself professional, but I can definitely make functional sumps/aquariums that look pretty ok.Cant tell you how much I've read, studied etc... just need the down and dirty, hands'-on' time now.
Hoped to have started sooner, but truck still in the shop... ghost 'helpers' etc. Spent some time trying to find a 'closer' source for acrylic & weld-on etc. Not a whole lot a luck, couple places Im waiting for responses from... including a Calsak Plastics. (Yea, I know about regal, aero etc), but if I can find a closer source.. :-D
Hoped to have started sooner, but truck still in the shop... ghost 'helpers' etc.
Spent some time trying to find a 'closer' source for acrylic & weld-on etc. Not a whole lot a luck, couple places Im waiting for responses from... including a Calsak Plastics. (Yea, I know about regal, aero etc), but if I can find a closer source.. :-D
Jamie9169
Guest
Well I got tired of waiting and built my own sump with a refugium area. It turned out very good and I may start building them for some extra cash.
Spent some time tonight doing practice runs with the weld-on.
1/4" seems fairly 'easy', I can see where edge quality becomes more important as thickness of the material scales up though.
Thinking of doing a 18x18x12 cube in the next day or so, as a QT test.
1/4" seems fairly 'easy', I can see where edge quality becomes more important as thickness of the material scales up though.
Thinking of doing a 18x18x12 cube in the next day or so, as a QT test.
cichlidtx
Guest
I picked up some scrap awhile back to experiment with and have a question. What method did you use when gluing the two pieces together?
Thanks
Thanks
Jamie9169
Guest
I have found that the pin and shim method works best for solid bubble free joints. I made one for my 150 gallon reef this way and it turned out very well. IMO I will post some pics on here this weekend after the wife gets back, the camera and I do not get along to well.
cichlidtx
Guest
Ulric said:cichlidtx said:
Probably help to name who you're asking...
I'm still 'practicing'... w/o pins, w/pins...1/8, 1/4, 3/8 thickness's.. tiny lil bit of 1/2. Saw cut, routered, scraped edges..
Oops, I thought hit the quote button. Which method seems to be the most forgiving and least amount of air bubbles? I was going to use 22 gauge solid wire or just regular straight pins. Also did Calsak Plastics have a scrap bin for acrylic and were there prices decent. Thanks again for the feedback.
didnt like my router results.. so back to building the
table, at least not clean enough for a tank. Sumps would probably fine,
but not at the 'pretty' quality I like....yet
hell or high-water the router stuff will be taken care of by this weekend, and I'll have a acrylic 'box' built for the qt test.
table, at least not clean enough for a tank. Sumps would probably fine,
but not at the 'pretty' quality I like....yet
hell or high-water the router stuff will be taken care of by this weekend, and I'll have a acrylic 'box' built for the qt test.
Jamie9169
Guest
I have built my second sump and it is ready for water test tomorrow. Pictures will be posted tomorrow of the water test. It is 48" X 12" X 18", I know it is an odd size but it fits into a narrow stand. Pictures will be up tomorrow afternoon.
cichlidtx
Guest
Looking forward to seeing the pics. I think I'm going to make a small cube this weekend to give it a try. I will post pics when finished.
